Ep 25: Coming Out of Darkness: Overcoming Depression & Suicide

Today’s guest is T-Kea Blackman.

T-Kea Blackman is a mental health advocate, speaker and writer who lives by the Toni Payne quote, "I rather be living my truth happily than living a lie miserably.” She is the creator and host of the Fireflies Unite Podcast, a weekly podcast dedicated to bringing light into darkness (just like the fireflies) by sharing the stories of individuals thriving with mental illness within communities of color despite the disadvantages and racism that negatively impact their mental health.

T-Kea’s articles have been published on The Mighty, Urban Faith, Blavity, and 21 Ninety. Making a digital footprint, her articles have garnered over 50,000 views and encouraged individuals to seek treatment.

  Described as an inspiration, her heartfelt and powerful story is a testament that you can thrive despite having a mental illness. T-Kea was diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety disorders and is a suicide survivor. She previously worked in the television industry as a publicist and production/talent coordinator. Within her career, she provided support to TV One’s signature award-winning shows Unsung and Unsung Hollywood, BET’s Black Girls Rock!, The Soul Train Awards and BET X Youth Experience. Her diagnosis led her to use her communications and media skills to raise awareness for mental illness within communities of color.

T-Kea is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, and currently serves as a In Our Own Voice speaker. She is also a member of ColorComm, a professional community for women of color in the communications industry and a brand ambassador for the Blessed & Bossed Up Podcast.

  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Google Play. Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): My Lotus Moments   Mentioned in this episode This is My Brave Connect on with us: T-Kea on IG: Firefliespod T-Kea on Facebook at Fireflies Unite: Healthy Minds Website: www.firefliesunite.com Our IG: HopeInHer     Announcements: Coming next month...   June's podcast is all about the rekindling of relationships between adult daughters and their dad's. We will also discuss trauma related to absent fathers during next month's online Circle of Hope discussion. Be sure you join the FB group, H.E.R. by Hope to be apart of that live discussion and to continue the discussions r/t all the podcasts!   New Merchandise This Month! Limited Edition Tees for Mental Health Awareness Month! Click HERE to purchase the Black Mental Health Matters Tee   This tee is for those who are managing their mental health and those who are advocating, providing services, and using their platforms even when it's unpopular, to combat the stigma of mental health and spread awareness. Click HERE to purchase the Mental Health Warrior Tee.   Still Available... For the curly girls… Protect those edges, honey! Click HERE to purchase Pray.Trust.Work Tee’s! Click HERE to purchase! Only a few remain! Thank you for your support!